Cross bracing for structural members



Feb. 23 1926.

' W. E. WHITE cnoss BRACING FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed Jan. 21, 1925Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. WHITE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CROSS BRACING FOR STRUCTURAL MEMBERS.

Application filed January 21, 1925. Serial No. 3,863.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. WHITE, acitizen of the United States, and resident 0 hicago, in the county ofCook and State of llinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in a Cross Bracing for Structural Members, of which thefolplaced back to back and united through their webs by welding. .Theseso-formed elements are commonly employed in floors and of necessitymeans must be provided for spacing the same in anticipation of theapplication of permanent floor and ceiling elements. Inasmuch as thespacing devices perform only a temporary function, that of SPHC'. ing-orin effect limiting the spacing of the structural elements, they arecommonly constructed of light weight. and should be inexpensive.However, one of the principal items of cost in connection with theplacing of these structural elements is that of laborincident to theiraccurate location in proper spaced relation according to thespecifications. Heretofore this has been accomplished by measuring andmarking out the location, then applying a strap or wire, one end ofwhich is passed underneath and bent around the lower flange of onestructural element, while the opposite end is passed under and bent overthe flange of an adj acent element. In this system the accuracy dependsupon the workmen and furthermore considerable time is required for theproper positioning of the spacing device, particularly in v1ew of thefact that it must be placed underneath one of the structural ele ments.

One of the objects of my invention" is to provide spacing means ofpredetermined length b a the use of which all measuring and mar ing iseliminated with the resultthat the work of installation may be performedby unskilled labor with the certainty of accurate location of the beams.

A. further object is the-provision of adevice of the character describedso arranged that an outside lower flange of a structural element 1sengaged, thus avoldmg the necessity for passmg the spacing devlce underneath the beam. The opposite end is preferably arranged to bedistorted to engage the upper inside flange. Inasmuch as the distortionis accomplished by a hammer blow, the time required is very short.

The invention will be more readily understood .by reference to. theaccompanying drawing, wherein- I Figure -1 is an end elevation of aplurality of so-called metal lumber elements showmg my improved spacingdevices appliedthereto; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of. one of the spacing devices asapplied;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof; Figure 4 is a perspective view of thelower hook element which I employ; and

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4, showing the application of thehook to a structural "element having a short flange. In-the drawings, itwill be seen that the improvement is .applied to structural eleinentsconsisting of channel shaped pressed steel members placed back toback,'and in their final form consisting of an I-beam having a web, 10,flanges 11 and marginal flanges, 12. These structural elements areintended to be located in suitable spaced relation in order to support afloor. I-beams commonly vary-in height from eight to twelve inches andthe marginal flanges, 12, vary in height from one-half to threequartersof an inch. The spacing device of my invention is intended toaccommodate itself to variations in the flange width, a predeterminedlength of spacer being employed in order to secure the requisite lateralspacing of the structural elements.

These metal and consisting of a shank 15, a tongue,

16, and a pair of arms, 17, bent into a right angle and underlyingthetongue 16. Looking at'the device fromits side a triangular space is thusformed which is adapted to receive the marginal flange 12, of astructural element. The arms 17, fit around the angle of the flange 12,while the tongue 16 overlies the edge of the flange. A diagonally upwardpull is resisted by the tongue 16. The hook 1s engaged with the flangeby osc1llat ing the hook member into position. The top edge of themarginal'flange enters the space between the terminal points of thetongue and the arms and the hookis then rotated into the osition shownin Figure 2.-

On the opposite end of the spacing element 13, I provide a hook ofsomewhat different construction, this being likewise secured to thespacer by a single r1vet 18. The

. upper hook is also constructed of-relatively or metal and comprises ashank 19, a tongue 20, and a pair of arms 21, formed to extend in astraight line parallel to the .tongue. After being located in the dottedline position of Figure 2, a hammer blow on I each of t e arms serves tobend the same to final position, the downwardly bent portions 22, lyingagainst the structural member. Thus it will be seen that the hooks aresecurely interlocked with respective mar-.

themselves to variations in width of the marginal flange. This isillustrated in Figure 5 so .far as the lower hook element is concerned,the shortest flange being 1llus-' trated. Of course'the width of theupper flange is immater'i al as the hook element will cooperatetherewith under all circumstances,

the only difference being in the length of the part 22, which is bentover theangle of the flange.

The construction is capableof wide variation in material-andconstruction. Wire elements may be employed and chan es in theshape ofthe hookelements be ma c, all

without departure from the-spirit of my inv vention.

, ingja fixed s ing;

Iclaim: I 1. Means for bracing and for establlshmg a, fixed spacing ofmetal lumber elements comprising a relatively flexible straight lengthof metal, means on one endot said length of metal for interlocking witha flan ofsaidlum-ber bya relative rotation of t c said means and saidlumber, and means on the op ite end. for effecting hook enga ement wit aflange on an adjacent met lumber element.

2. Meansfor brac' g-and for establishcompnsing a r 'vel'y flexiblestraight length of metal, means at fione end thereof for interlockingwith a marginal flange of spacin etal lumber elements.

p redetermin of said length of metal for interlocking with a flange onthe opposite side of an adjacent lumber element.

3. Means for bracing and for limiting the lateral spacing of structuralelements for floors comprising a spacing element of predeterminedlength, means on one end thereof for interlocking with a bottom flangeof a structural element by an oscillating movement of said means, andmeans on the opposite end ada 'ted to be distorted to firmly engage atop' ange of anadjacent structural element.

4. Means for establishing a fixed lateral spacing. of structuralelements, comprising a spacing member of predetermined length and hookelements on the res ective ends 0 said member, one of said hoo elementsbeing adapted to interlock with a flange by oscillating saidhookelement, and theother with a flange of an ad acent structural element bydistortion of said hook element.

5. Means for establishing a fixed lateral spacing of structuralelements, comprising a flexible'spacer of predetermined length, andinterlocking devices of relatively stifl'er metal connected to the endsof said spacer, said interlocking devices being shaped to interlock withthe flanges of ad acent structural elements. Y

6. Means for establishing a fixed lateral spacingof structural elements,com rising a' relatively flexible spacer, and re atjvely stiffer metalinterlocking devices secured to hook element being adapted to beinterlocked the respective ends of the spacer, one of said interlockingdevices being of fixed form and the other of said devices bein .adaptedto be distorted to effect interloc in engagement with a flange of astructura element.

7. Means for establishing a fixed lateral of structural elements,comprisin a relatively flexible spacer of predetermined length, andhooks on the respective ends'of the spacer, one. of said hooks beingshaped to engage and interlock with a bottom flan c of a structuralelement and the op osi e hook being constructed to be distorte into hookengagement with the top flange of an adjacent structural element.

8. Means for spacing and bracing beams comprising, incombination, aflexible strip .of predetermined length and adapted to function onlywhen under tension,. and means on the respective ends of-the s a er forinterlocking with the flanges o beams, the interlockihg themeans at oneend bein adapted to be distorted to effect. final.

hol in engagement; 9. cans of the class described comprising, incombination, adjacent flanged beams and relativel flexible straightspacers of ed length adapted to function only under tension, one end ofthe spacer said lumber, and means ohthe opposite-end having hookengagementwith a flange on the upper portion of a beam, and the otherend of the spacer having hook engagement with a lower flange on theadjacent beam.

10. In means of the class described, the combination with a pair ofparallel beams and spacing and bracing devices associated therewith,said devices comprising a spacer of predetermined length having. a hookat one end adapted to engage with a depending flange by a relativerotation and PI 'OVIdQd 10 Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 16th day 1501 January, 1925.

WILLIAM WHITE.

